Tomato plant `Pezzulla`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of paste-type tomato is derived in part from the &#34;Roma&#34; and in part from Italian banana tomatoes. The plant is characterized by thick stalks and stems, but slender, relatively-sparce light green foliage. The plant flowers early, and sets long, thin blossoms. Maturity is reached in approximately seventy-eight days. Very numerous, uniformly large, low acid fruit are produced in clusters of five or six fruits per cluster and more than thirty fruits per plant. The fruits are meaty and have few seeds. The fruits are extremely large, weighing one to three pounds, and measure twelve to seventeen centimeters in length and five to eight centimeters in diameter in an elongated plum shape.

The present development is a new and distinct tomato plant which is aselection taken from plants which are believed to have been second backcrosses to the current "Roma VF" from an initial cross between "Roma VF"(pollen parent) X "Italian Banana" (seed parent). Seeds from the initialcross were grown out and observed to develop into plants of variedintermediate types. Selection from the F₁ generation was on the basis ofsize and abundance of fruit with fruit shape not being a criticalselection factor. Seed from selected plants was then planted in closeproximity to "Roma VF". In the generation which followed, selection wasagain based on fruit size and abundance. Seed of the second selectionwas again planted in close proximity to "Roma VF". Selection from thelast named generation was based on fruit size and abundance as well asplant vigor. The instant plant is a selection taken from plants grownfrom seeds of the last named generation.

The original plant parent (Italian Banana) was a producer of a few largeshort stocky fruits but most were long and very slender, curved somewhatin the shape of a letter "J" or banana as the name implies, with a verypronounced nipple (portion of decreased diameter) at the blossom end ofthe fruit on indeterminate plants. The pollen plant parent was the RomaVF which was characterized by very uniform, small fruit on determinateplants. The blossoms of the instant plant are much larger and longerthan either parent, and developed into much larger and more uniformtomatoes. The shape of the fruit of my tomato plant most nearlyresembles the shape of "Roma VF" (but larger), apparently due to therespective back-crosses of respective selections thereto. This newvariety has taken on a uniform fruit character, and increased fruit percluster, but not as many in a cluster as pollen parent Roma VF. Thefruit shape is somewhat similar to the Roma VF, only 10 to 15 timeslarger. This new variety has more seeds than the original plant parent(Italian Banana) which characteristic may be closer to the pollen parent(Roma VF), but has maintained the thick meaty texture and very smallseed cavity of the female parent. The seed cavity has increased in sizeto accommodate the increase in seeds but the fruit is also much larger).This tomato is also a very tasty eating tomato, especially appropriatefor people with low acidity diets or for easy removal of seeds asrequired by people with colon trouble.

The resulting plant is characterized by features which distinguish itfrom both parents, which features are not true and established, andcharacterize successive generations. The resulting plant, being herebynamed the "Pezzulla," is also distinguished from all other tomatovarieties of which I am aware, by virtue of a number of outstandingcharacteristics, including the following:

(1) The plants produce a thick stalk and relatively thick stems ascompared to the Roma VF and Italian Banana varieties. The Roma VF is adeterminate tomato and was pollen parent. The Pezzulla is anindeterminate tomato as was the Italian Banana female parent. Thefoliage is relatively sparse and lighter green in color than that of theRoma VF. Leaves are slender and fine.

(2) The plants begin to blossom early in the season and continue untilfrost. Individual blossoms are long and slender, measuring up to an inchin length.

(3) The plants are not particularly bushy. If staked, the plants willgrow to an indeterminate length of approximately six feet, given thetypical growing seasons of central Pennsylvania.

(4) The plants are remarkably resistant to drought, and continue duringdry periods to produce large numbers of large fruit. The plant reachesmaturity in about seventy-eight days, and will thereafter continue toproduce fruit until frost, approximately ninety days thereafter in thearea where developed. The fruits are uniformly large and appear inclusters of five to six fruit per cluster, each plant having five to sixclusters. The fruits are much larger than would be expected from thefruit of either the Roma VF or Banana parents, each fruit weighing fromone to three pounds and measuring twelve to seventeen centimeters,whereas, the Roma VF tomato weighs about two and one-half ounces and isapproximately six to seven centimeters in length. The Pezzullas tomatoesare very long, very large, stocky elongated plum-shaped fruit varyingsomewhat to tapering or teardropped shape with a short conical nipple.

(5) The fruits are low in acid and have a very meaty texture and sweettaste.

(6) The Roma's resistance to verticillium and fusarium wilts appears tohave been maintained.

(7) Asexual reproduction of the new Pezzulla variety, accomplished byrooting cuttings, shows that the characteristics of the plant are fixedand appear in succeeding generations.

(8) The seeds are very small (much smaller than the pollen parent RomaVF), but the germination rate is 95% to 100%.

The accompanying photographs show a number of specimens of the plant andits blossoms and fruit, throughout various stages of growth, asexperienced in the summer of 1983 in central Pennsylvania. The plantsshown in the drawings were neither staked nor watered (except by naturalrainfall) for the entire growing season. The resulting plants and theirproduction was far superior to that of any variety of this type known tothe applicant.

The following outline sets forth a number of distinguishing featuresover plants known before and may be compared to photographs of the plantas attached hereto. Color specifications mentioned herein weredetermined by reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart(R.H.S.) published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London,England.

The Plant

Type: Paste-type tomato of indeterminate habit bearing extremely largeand numerous fruit.

Breeding and propagation: Developed initially by accidentalcross-breeding of Roma VF and Banana varieties, and thereafter, bydeliberately selecting of the most desirable characteristics andsuccessive back-crosses with Roma VF. Resulting plant holds itsdistinguishing characteristics through succeeding propagations byrooting of cuttings.

Habit and average height and spread: Bushiness as shown is due to thenumerous branches, the nodes occurring every 2-3 inches, althoughindividual leaves are relatively slender and fine.

Growth: Average rate of growth reaching an indeterminate height ofapproximately six feet if staked.

Foliage: Leaves are relatively thin and fine, and appear in compoundgroups of five, seven or nine. Frequently, a compound of seven leaves isinterspersed with smaller, relatively round leaflets between the largerleaflets which are included in the defined compound. The leaflets arelong and narrow which uneven serrations along the leaf margin. Theleaves are thinner than that of the Roma VF variety, and of equal orlonger length. Mature leaflets are about 2-3 inches in width taperingevenly to a point. The length of the mature leaflet is about 4-6 inches.Leaf color is green (143A).

Stems and branches: The plants produce a thick stalk havingclosely-spaced stems. The stems are thicker than either parent. Branchesand new stems are also relatively thick and short.

Flowers: Flowers appear in clusters of five or six on a flower stemwhich is also relatively long and thick. Individual flowers are quitelong and thin, measuring up to an inch in length. The sepals haveslender points which extend nearly perpendicularly outwards from theflower as the blossom matures. Blossom color is yellow (15A) at flowercenter and outer flower petal color is yellow (5B.)

The Fruit

Bearing: Quite heavy, more than thirty fruits per plant.

Shape: Very long, very large, stocky elongated plum-shaped fruit varyingsomewhat to tapering or teardropped shape with a short conical nipple.

Size: Quite heavy, ranging from one to three pounds and measuring up toseventeen centimeters in length and ten centimeters in diameter. Averageweight is two pounds. Length ranges from twelve to seventeencentimeters, averaging fifteen centimeters and width ranges from eightto ten centimeters, averaging nine centimeters.

Texture: Very meaty and having few seeds. The fruit locules arerelatively small in volume and are confined primarily to the areaadjacent to the inner surface of the external wall of the fruit.

Color: External color is deep red (42B).

Season: First fruits mature about seventy-eight days after plants areset out, depending upon conditions. Plants then bear fruit until frost,resulting in a season of about ninety days, as experienced in centralPennsylvania.

Flavor: Sweet taste and low in acid.

Skin: Characterized by thin walls and not prone to cracking.

Disease resistance: Has field tolerance to verticillium and fusariumwilt comparable with the Roma VF variety.

Drought resistance: Outstanding drought resistance.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of paste-type tomatoplant, as described and illustrated, characterized by a thick stalk andclosely-spaced stems, and slender, light green, relatively sparseleaves, long, thin clustered blossoms developing into very numerous,very uniform and very large stocky, elongated plum-shaped fruit varyingsomewhat to tapering or teardropped shape with a short conical nipple,the fruits being very meaty and with few seeds, the overall plant beingquite hearty and drought resistant.